Wolf pelts, runic talismans and saga-singing warriors: the Space Wolves are the most untamed of all Space Marine Chapters. This guide answers one beginner question: who are the Space Wolves, and what makes them different?
The short answer
The Space Wolves are the First Founding Chapter descended from the Primarch Leman Russ. They recruit from the brutal ice world of Fenris, ignore much of the standard Space Marine rulebook, and carry a unique genetic gift that makes them fiercer than other Space Marines, along with a dangerous curse.
Leman Russ and Fenris
Leman Russ was the Primarch of the VI Legion, and he was raised on Fenris, a frozen, deadly world of ice, storms and monstrous beasts. His warriors took on the culture of its fierce human tribes, and the Chapter still recruits from them today. Wolf Priests watch the tribes' battles and pick out the bravest young warriors as candidates.
According to the Chapter's history, Leman Russ left the Chapter's fortress, the Fang, long ago and headed into the Eye of Terror, promising to return for the final battle, the "Wolf Time". He never came back. The Space Wolves still await him, and Lexicanum notes that his exact fate remains unknown.
The Canis Helix and the Curse of the Wulfen
Every Space Wolf carries the Canis Helix, a unique part of their gene-seed. It gives them hyper-acute senses of smell and hearing, long fangs, tough leathery skin and great ferocity. As a Wolf ages, his hair greys and his fangs lengthen, which is why the Chapter's ranks are named the way they are.
The Helix has a dark side. A Wolf who cannot control his feral nature risks becoming a Wulfen, a bestial creature. This danger, known as the Curse of the Wulfen, follows Space Wolves throughout their lives, and part of a Wolf Priest's job is to watch for it.
How the Chapter is organised
Instead of ten companies, the Space Wolves are divided into Great Companies, each led by a Wolf Lord who stamps his own name and personality on it. The Chapter Master is called the Great Wolf; Lexicanum records Logan Grimnar as having held the title for around seven hundred years. Lexicanum lists twelve current Great Companies, plus a special case in the Dekk-Tra.
Space Wolves ranks at a glance
| Space Wolves rank | Codex Chapter equivalent | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Claws | Assault troops | Young, reckless warriors who charge into close combat |
| Grey Hunters | Tactical (battleline) squads | Experienced warriors who make up most of a Great Company |
| Long Fangs | Devastator squads | The oldest warriors, trusted with heavy weapons |
| Wolf Guard | Veterans | Elite bodyguards to the Wolf Lord |
| Wolf Lord | Captain | Commands a Great Company |
| Great Wolf | Chapter Master | Leads the entire Chapter |
| Wolf Priest | Chaplain and Apothecary combined | Spiritual guide and healer, and watches for the Curse |
| Rune Priest | Librarian | Psychic warrior and keeper of the sagas |
| Iron Priest | Techmarine | Maintains weapons, vehicles and Dreadnoughts |
Rune Priests: psykers who say they aren't
One of the Chapter's quirks is that Rune Priests don't believe their powers come from the Warp. They see them as gifts from the spirits of Fenris, channelled through runes and totems. At the Council of Nikaea during the Great Crusade, Leman Russ argued against psykers serving in the Legions, yet the Rune Priests continued to serve, insisting their abilities had nothing to do with psychic power.
Painting the Space Wolves
The classic Space Wolves scheme is blue-grey armour with yellow and red details, plus a lot of fur, bone and leather. A simple, generic recipe:
| Area | Base | Shade | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armour | Blue-grey | Dark blue-grey wash in recesses | Pale grey-blue edges |
| Wolf pelts | Brown or grey | Dark brown or black wash | Light drybrush of pale grey or bone |
| Talismans, teeth and bone | Bone or cream | Brown wash | Off-white highlight |
| Leather and straps | Dark brown | Black wash | Mid brown edges |
| Shoulder trim and markings | Yellow or red | Matching darker wash | Lighter yellow or orange-red edges |
Pelts are the signature detail, so it's worth getting them right. Our guide to painting fur on miniatures shows a quick drybrush and wash method.
Common beginner questions
Are the Space Wolves loyal to the Imperium?
Yes, fiercely, though they have a long history of disagreements with other Imperial organisations, especially the Inquisition.
Are Wulfen a separate army?
No. Wulfen are Space Wolves who have succumbed to the curse, and they fight alongside the Chapter.
How are Space Wolves different from other Chapters?
They have their own ranks, a unique gene-seed and a Fenrisian culture of sagas and feasting. To compare them with other famous Chapters, see our guide to Space Marine Chapters.
Quick summary
- The Space Wolves are the sons of Leman Russ, recruited from the ice world of Fenris.
- The Canis Helix makes them fierce, but risks the Curse of the Wulfen.
- They organise into Great Companies with their own ranks, from Blood Claws to Long Fangs.
Independent resource published by Blubbercove Ltd. This page is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, authorised by or licensed by Games Workshop Limited.
Warhammer 40,000 and the names of all associated armies, characters, races, vehicles, units and places are trademarks of Games Workshop Limited, used here without permission and solely to identify the subject. This is an unofficial fan guide.